QEM Network Southern Regional Office to open in Baton Rouge; partnership with Southern University to expand research opportunities

QEM Network, a national leader in advancing equity in research and development, and Southern University, a leader in conducting research to address scientific, technological, socioeconomic and cultural challenges, will co-locate the office on Southern’s campus. Leaders say the new office will strengthen the national research and development position of Southern and other Louisiana-based minority-serving institutions and community colleges.

 

This co-location is designed to expand Southern’s collaborative research capacity by enabling direct engagement with QEM’s technical expertise in grant development, proposal writing and evaluation. The office will also broaden faculty and student access to national research initiatives.

 

As a strategic hub for minority-serving institutions, QEM will help Southern form competitive multi-institutional partnerships, attract federal funding and align with emerging research priorities in fields such as STEM, artificial intelligence, education and agriculture.

 

The partnership also aims to amplify workforce development, support entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups and foster community engagement through inclusive innovation programs. Leaders said hosting the QEM office on campus not only increases Southern’s research competitiveness and institutional capacity but also underscores its commitment to empowering historically Black colleges and universities and advancing inclusive excellence in the national research ecosystem.